On May 22, within the framework of the Workshop "Favorable Development and Mobilization of Green Investment for the Tam Giang - Cau Hai lagoon area", WWF-Vietnam honored Hue as "National Green City 2026" in the International Green City Challenge (OPCC) Program.
This is the second time Hue has been recognized within the framework of the global initiative initiated by WWF, after the first time in 2016 for its commitments to low emission development. The continued nomination after a decade shows the city's persistent efforts in the journey of building a green city, adapting to climate change and sustainable development.
The International Green City Program (OPCC) has been implemented by WWF since 2011 to promote urban development in the world towards low emissions, increasing resilience to climate change and harmony with nature. From 2015 to now, the program has attracted more than 900 provinces and cities in nearly 70 countries to participate. In the period 2025 - 2026 alone, there are more than 380 cities worldwide participating.
According to WWF-Vietnam, Hue's continued achievement of the title "National Green City 2026" is of particular significance as the city not only maintains its climate commitments set a decade ago but also continuously improves its long-term climate action goals.
After becoming a centrally-run city in 2025, Hue continues to affirm its separate development orientation, not chasing the "super-industrial urban area" model, but taking heritage, culture and green ecosystems as the foundation for development. This is also a trend prioritized by many cities around the world in the context of having to simultaneously solve the problem of economic growth, quality of life and climate change adaptation.
Speaking at the award ceremony, Mr. Van Ngoc Thinh - General Director of WWF-Vietnam - said: "In the context of increasingly serious climate change, Hue's story brings a positive belief that natural-based solutions are no longer an experimental option, but are gradually becoming a strategic direction for Vietnamese cities in the future.
According to WWF-Vietnam, Hue's highlight is its attachment to a harmonious development model between people and nature. In recent years, the city has implemented many climate adaptation solutions based on nature such as expanding green spaces, increasing natural water regulation capacity to reduce flooding, while preserving and restoring important ecosystems such as Tam Giang - Cau Hai lagoon, wetlands and riverside ecological corridors.
In addition, Hue is also promoting greenhouse gas emission reduction solutions through developing waste power, green transportation, renewable energy and reducing plastic waste. This process is accompanied by many international partners such as WWF, Luxembourg Development, JICA and KOICA, along with coordination between governments, businesses and local communities.
WWF-Vietnam said it will continue to accompany Hue and localities in Vietnam in promoting development models that both effectively respond to climate change, conserve nature and improve the quality of life for people.
